The Last Tinsmiths Of Turkey Urges The Old Trade To Die Down

In northeastern province of Erzurum, masters of tinsmithing urged the old metalworking craft was about to fade in the near future.

Traditional tinsmithing or coppersmithing, is a common occupation dating to pre-industrial times, known as a part of the Turkish crafting culture.

Mehmet Baki, a 59-year-old veteran tinsmith tells he has inherited the profession from this father and has been working in the last 20 years.

Baki, loyal to this traditional artisanship despite its economic disadvantages, urges the profession is going to be a history after him and his colleagues.

Technology not an enemy against the craftship

Mehmet Baki, from Ankara, stresses the tinsmithing trade has been fading out as use of copper dies. Thus, the technological development is not the primary reason for the course of this traditional trade.

As kitchen wares have been currently made mostly of aluminum, chrome, steel and teflon, tinsmithing has received a serious blow, according to Baki.

On the other hand, there has been a minor recovery in the trade in last years, as the craftsmen

"I barely earn my bread. As our job is mostly based on peddling, we wander in streets and work on a small loom. I light a fire on a street and start tinning. I have five children, however they refused to resume the tradition of tinsmithing in the family. I believe we are the last generation in tinsmithing" said the craftsman.

According to one of the last tinsmiths of the region, the profession will die down, along with many other traditional trades.

(Photo) - Erzurum